Joyeux Anniversaire (Happy Birthday)

A letter from Claire Zuhosky serving in Niger

October 2016

This year I had the joy of celebrating my birthday with the youth from church. The day started with going over to the house of my good friend Jael, who had previously invited a couple of girls to help us prepare the meal. Over the fire they prepared a meal that was absolutely delicious, with a rice base and a spicy sheep’s meat sauce. For a drink they made a juice from lime, sugar, and shaved ginger that was both tasty and definitely tart. After preparations were finished, the youth arrived at my house, where we began by singing worship songs. My colleagues the Ludwig family as well as my guard joined in the fun. I love to hear them sing to the beat of the drum, which was passed around during the night to those who are very gifted with it. In the middle of our dancing we experienced a blackout, which served as a natural transition to the mealtime when people sat on mats outside the house and shared a platter of food with their friends. The lights returned about 30 minutes later to a resounding AMEN, providing the necessary light to clean up! It was a very fun evening full of joy, conversation, and laughter.

The Evangelical Church of the Republic of Niger (EERN) is currently seeking to construct a Youth Hosting Center with the hope of raising funds to construct others in the future. These centers would be built next to schools in the villages and allow children who are coming from great distances to live there. These centers would provide a sense of community for the youth and an opportunity to be helped with their homework, as well as a vision for discipleship. I am hoping to take part in these initiatives, giving a hand with both the programming and communication efforts through photos and video.

EERN congregations are currently preparing for their annual Godiya or Thanksgiving service to occur during the month of November. We’ll start with my congregation in Maradi and then travel to the other congregations throughout the month. The reason for the staggering is that people are encouraged to attend as many as possible. This is one of my favorite services as it is an intense display of the generosity of heart these people have for our Lord. These services are to give thanks and praise to God through the giving of physical and monetary gifts to the church. Each person is to participate. And they do! Bringing all types of gifts joyously down the aisles of the church to music and dancing. Such a generous outpouring of gifts shows the faithfulness of the individual members of our partner church congregations. It’s inspiring!

I want to offer my sincere thanks and gratitude to all of you who have provided financial gifts, prayer, and words of encouragement! Each day that I am in Niger I count as a blessing the chance to be with such beautiful people of God as I learn more and more about God’s Kingdom and God’s Love Eternal! If you haven’t yet, I invite you to come alongside me through your prayers, correspondence and financial commitment to my sending and support, because I couldn’t be here without it!

Prayer Requests:
• For the youth of Niger, that the Lord would continue to grow the relationships He has blossomed so that we may grow deep roots of ministry. For the year ahead, opportunities to share God’s love through sports outreaches, youth gatherings, and drama presentations.
• For God to give a clear vision for these Youth Hosting Centers and how we might all play a role in seeing them come to fruition.
• For strength as I take the exam in November to complete the 4th of 6 levels in my French language studies.
• For opportunities to use my gifts of photography and video to help aid the communication goals of the EERN.
• For my transportation needs. The vehicle I am using has not been very reliable, but I am committed to having it repaired and using it for as long as possible during my time here.

Your Sister in Christ,

Claire Zuhosky, M.Div.

Please read this important message from Tony De La Rosa, Interim Executive Director, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:1b-2, NRSV)

Dear Friend of the Presbyterian Mission Agency:

Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support of Claire Zuhosky this year, and any previous year. We hear from our mission co-workers how much your prayerful financial support has meant to them. Please know that you are a vital part of ministries throughout Niger.

Even as I thank you, I want to let you know that this is a critical time for our congregations and all people of faith to commit themselves to support mission co-workers like Claire. Our global church partners greatly value her service, and you well know how important this ministry is in building connections between the body of Christ in the U.S. and Niger.

We have historically relied on endowment interest and the general offering from congregations to sustain the vital work of all of our mission workers. Those sources of funding have greatly diminished. It is only through the gifts of individuals and congregations that we are able to keep Claire doing the life-giving work God called her to do. A year ago, in May 2015, we had to recall some mission workers due to a lack of funding. World Mission communicated the challenge to you, and you responded decisively and generously. Through your response, we heard the Spirit remind us, “Fear not!”

Today, I’m asking you to consider an additional gift for this year, and to increase the gift you may consider for 2017. Sending and support costs include not only salary but also health insurance and retirement contributions, orientation, language training, housing, travel to the country of service, children’s education, emergency evacuation costs, and visa/passport costs.

My heartfelt thanks for your prayers and support of our Presbyterian mission co-workers. In the coming season, we will celebrate God’s sending of the Christ child, the source of the good news we share. May you experience anew the hope, peace, joy, and love that are ours because “perfect love casts out fear” (I John 4:18).

Thank you for saying “yes” to love.

With you in Christ,

Tony De La Rosa
Interim Executive Director, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)